Electric stapler



0d 49' 1966 T. w. YEAGER ETAL 3,276,654

ELECTRIC STAPLER Filed May 27, 196.5

I 6 INVENTORS y W Q4/@ageivy Bamfck man M o(TTORNEYS Tir/wi United States Patent 3,276,654 ELECTRIC STAPLER Timothy W. Yeager, 5320 Montrose Road, and Roy E. Bamsch, 1706 Woodcrest Drive, both of Houston, Tex. Filed May 27, 1965, Ser. No. 459,365 12 Claims. (Cl. 227-131) This invention relates generally to apparatus for electrically operating stapler machines and like devices, and more particularly to such an apparatus incorporating a unique deilectable platform and switch arrangement for triggering an electric solenoid disposed to actuate the stapler mechanism.

The common stapler machine for dispensing staples utilized to secure together sheets of paper or other material incorporates a frame pivotally mounted to a base, and within which an operating plunger is slidably mounted for vertical movement. The plunger is pressed downwardly to operate the mechanism, and when it is so depressed functions to remove a staple from a strip thereof, to drive said staple through the material to be fastened, and to urge the staple ends against a platen with `suiiicient force to bend them into a closed position. The

present invention is directed to apparatus for electrically operating such a stapler, and includes a base on which the stapler is mounted, an electric solenoid means supported above the plunger of the stapler mechanism and operable to depress said plunger to effect a stapling operation, and a unique trigger mechanism for the solenoid means, designed so that it can be operated merely by applying pressure thereto.

A problem with solenoid-operated stapler machines is to trigger their operation at the precise time desired, usually while the hands of the operator are holding the material to be stapled. Automatic trigger mechanisms which are tripped by the insertion of material into the stapler have been devised, and have as an advantage that the hands of the operator need not release material being held in order to operate the stapler. However, stapler machines incorporating such trip mechanisms are not wholly desirable, as the trip mechanism frequently is actuated prematurely, resulting in the installation of a staple before the material has been properly positioned.

In the present invention, the unique trigger mechanism includes a depressibleplatform mounted on the base in front of the stapler mechanism. The solenoid means for operating the plunger of the stapler is connected into an electrical circuit including an operating switch, which switch is mounted below the depressible platform. The operating switch is arranged so that when the circuit is connected to a power source and the platform is depressed, operation of the solenoid to drive the plunger of the stapler mechanism downwardly will be effected. The depressible platform is resiliently biased upwardly toward its original unactuated position, and presents a relatively large area to the operator, whereby it can be easily operated with the hands while such are holding the material to be stapled in the proper relationship to the stapler mechanism.

The apparatus of the present invention is not limited to use with stapler machines, but can also 4be used with devices for punching holes in sheet material, for example, and with other similar devices which incorporate a member or element that can be operated by a solenoid means.

It is an `object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for electrically operating stapler machines and other like devices, including a trigger mechanism positioned and designed so that it can be easily operated by an operator while his hands are being used to hold the material to be worked upon.

rf t 3,276,654 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 Another object is to provide a trigger mechanism for an apparatus for electrically operating stapler machines and like devices, designed and arranged so that it can lbe operated when desired merely by applying pressure thereto, and to minimize the possibility of accidental actuation.

A further object is to provide a trigger mechanism of the type described, so positioned relative to the stapler mechanism Orother device to be actuated that it can be easily operated by the hands when desired, and while said hands are holding the material to be worked upon.

Still lanother object is to provide a pressure operated trigger mechanism of the type described which will automatically return to an original, unactuated condition when operating pressure is relieved, and which includes a minimum of elements and can be economically fabricated.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages -of the present invention will -be readily apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, i

FIG. l is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional View, taken along the line 2--2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, transverse, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2, showing in particular the manner in which the stapler base is mounted to the mounting plate;

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram for the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention, incorporating a punch device.

Referring now to the drawing, the apparatus of the invention includes a base 2,', which base includes a mounting plate 4 from which depends a pair of side walls 6 and 7, a front wall 8, and a rear wall 10. A flange -12 extends around the lower periphery of the base 2, and -has a ring 14 of shock-absorbing material, such as rubber, secured thereto. The mounting plate 4 has a rectangular opening 16 adjacent the front wall 8, and is provided centrally thereof with an elongated depression 18. The depression 18 extends axially of the base 2, and terminates short of the rear edge 20 of the rectangula opening 16.

Fitted within the depression 18 is the base 22 of a conventional stapler machine 24, said base 22 being secured to the mounting plate 4 by bolts 26. The stapler machine 24 includes a frame 28, comprising a horizontally extending, staple magazine portion 30, and a vertical portion 32. Slidably mounted within the vertical frame portion 32 is an operating plunger 34, which terminates at its upper end in an enlarged head 36. The operating plunger 34 is biased upwardly by a spring (not shown) contained within the vertical frame portion 32, into the normal, unactuated position shown in FIG. 2.

The frame 28 is pivotally connected at the rear end of the magazine portion 30 to the base 22 by a bracket 38, said bracket 38 housing a spring (not shown) arranged to urge the forward end of the magazine portion 30 away from the base 32, and to urge said portion 30 into the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when the stapler machine 24 is in its normal, unactuated position, the enlarged head 36 on the operating plunger 34 will be spaced from the vertical frame portion 32, the forwardend of the magazine portion 30 will be spaced from the platen 40 mounted on the forward end of the base 22, and the front of the stapler will be` open to receive sheet material. As is readily understood, staples are stored in the magazine portion 30, and are urged 'that is urged forwardly by a spring-biased flexible strip Mounted on the base 2 and extending upwardly therefrom is a vertical plate 46, said plate being provided with flanges 48 at the lower edge thereof, which are secured to the mounting plate 4 by bolts 50. The vertical plate 46 extends transversely of the mounting plate 4 and is positioned about midway of the length of the depression 18, said vertical plate 46 having a central cutout 52 therein through which the stapler machine 24 extends. Secured to the upper end lof the vertical plate 46 by screws 54 is a solenoid mechanism 56, including a coil 58 and a central, vertically movable core element 60.

The solenoid mechanism 56 is mounted so that the core element 60 is axially aligned with the operating plunger 34, and is of the type wherein when the coil 58 is supplied with electrical energy, the core element 60 will be driven downwardly to engage the enlarged head 36 on 'the plunger 34, and to depress said plunger 34 to effect operation of the stapler mechanism. When electrical energy to the coil 54 is terminated, the springs (not shown) which, as described hereinabove, urge the operating plunger 34 upwardly and the forward end of the fname v28 away from the base 22, will return the stapler mech- 'mounting plate 4 by screws 70. A front Wall 74 and a top wall 76 are f-ormed integrally with the side Walls 64, and the rear edges of the side walls are cut on the diagonal, as at 65. A lid 72 is secured to the top Wall 76, and includes a pair of side walls 73, a top wall 75, and a rear wall 78, the lower edges 77 of the side walls 73 being cut on the diagonal to mate with lthe edges 65. The top wall 75 of the lid 72 is mounted by hinges 79 to the Itop wall 76, and the rear wall 78 of said lid has a handle 82 secured thereto near its bottom edge. The lid 72 can thus be easily raised to provide access to the lrear of the stapler machine 24 for loading staples.

The trigger mechanism for operating the solenoid mechanism 56 includes a rectangular, depressible platform 84, which is received within the rectangular opening 16 in the mounting plate 4. The platform 84 is slightly smaller in dimension than the rectangular opening 16, and one-half 86 of a piano hinge is secured to the undersurface thereof along the rear edge 88 of said platform. The other half 90 of the piano hinge is secured yto the undersurface of the mounting plate 4 along the `rear edge 20 of the opening 16, and is connected to the hinge half 86 by a pivot lpin 92.

Secured by bolts 96 to the side wall 6 of the base 2 near .the front of the opening 16 is a push button-operated, operating switch 94. The operating switch 94 includes a push button 98 that is biased upwardly into a switch Off position by resilient means mounted internally of said switch. The switch 94 is positioned so that when the operating push button 98 is fully urged upwardly by the resilient means associated therewith, the outer end thereof will just engage the undersurface of the depressible platform 84 when said platform is in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2.

A master On-Off7 toggle switch 100 is mounted on the other side wall 7 of the base 2, and includes an operating toggle element 102 that extends outwardly from the base 2. A multiwire conductor 104 extends through a grommet 106 mounted in a hole 108 provided in the rear wall of the base 2, the wires 110 and 112 of said lconductor 104 being connected to terminals 114 and 116, respectively, on the toggle switch 100. The outer end of the conductor 104 has a conventional plug 118 connected thereto, for connecting said conductor to a suitable source of electrical energy, say a 117 v., A.C. wall outlet.

A conductor 120 leads from a terminal 122 on the toggle switch 102 to one side of the coil 58, and a conductor 124 connects the other side of said coil 58 to a terminal 126 on the `operating switch 94. A conductor 128 extends between the second terminal 130 on the operating switch 94 and terminal 132 on the toggle switch 100, to complete the electrical circuit.

To operate the invention, the plug 118 is'rst connected to a power supply, and toggle switch 100 is moved to an On position. Material to be stapled is then grasped by the hands of an operator, and the 4portion thereof to be stapled is moved into the open fr-ont of the unactuated stapler machine 24. When the material has been properly positioned, the operator merely presses downwardly on the depressible platform 84. The operating button 98 on the operating switch 94 will thus be depressed, closing the circuit to the solenoid coil 58, and causing the core element 60 to drive downwardly to operate the stapler mechanism. When the stapling operation is completed, the operator removes the material from the stapler. When operating pressure is relieved on the depressible platform 84, the resiliently biased operating button 98 yof the switch 94 will move upwardly, and will return said platform to its initial, unactuated position; after the operating pressure has been relieved on the platform 84, the material is removed from the stapler. lf desired, resilient means apart from that incorporated in the operating switch 94 can be employed to return the platform 84 to its original position.

The depressible platform 84 extends nearly the full width of the base 2, and typically will have a width about three times the width of the stapler base 22. The rear edge 88 of the platform 84 is spaced a short distance from the stapler machine 24, and said platform extends forwardly from said stapler machine for a substantial distance, say about twice the width of the base 22. Thus, the platform 84 presents a substantial area which may be contacted by the operator, said platform being substantially rigid and being. arranged so that it will operate the switch 94 regardless of what portion of the area of said platform is engaged by the hands of the operator. This latter feature is derived by the manner in which the depressible platform 84 is hingedly mounted to the mounting plate 4, and by having said platform made of a substantially rigid material.

When the operating switch 94 is in an Off position and when the operating button is in its ful-ly up position, the depressible platform 84 is arranged so that the top surface 85 thereof will lie substantially flush with the surrounding top surface of the mounting plate 4. Thus, no protrusions or edges are present to catch on material being inserted into the stapler machine 24.

The apparatus of the invention is not only usable with stapler machines, but can also be employed to operate other similar plunger operated devices. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a punch machine 134 is substituted for the stapler machine 24.

Referring to FIG. 5, the base 2 indicated therein identical to the base 2 shown in FIGS. 1-3, and has the solenoid mechanism 56 attached thereto, including the core element 60. The punch machine 134 includes a base 136 received within the depression 18 in the mounting plate 4, and from which vertically extends a frame 138. The frame 138 has an opening 140 near lthe lower, front edge thereof, a die plate 142 forming the llower side of said opening. The die plate 142 has a hole 144 extending therethrough.

Positioned above the die plate 142 is a housing 146, within which is received a plunger 148 disposed in axial alignment with the hole 144. The plunger 148 terminates in an enlarged head 150 positioned to be engaged by the core element, and said plunger 148 is urged upwardly by a spring 152 positioned between the housing 146 and the enlarged he-ad 150,

In operation, material is inserted into the opening 140. After the material is properly positioned, the depressible platform 84 is depressed to actuate the solenoid mechanism, and to drive the core element 60 downwardly to effect operation of the plunger 148.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For example, another type of solenoid mechanism might be substituted for the mechanism 56, and the operating switch associated with the depressible platform 84 might be of different design than the operating switch 94, all without departing from the invention. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus including: a base; a plunger-operated device mounted on said base, and when in an unactuated position open to the front thereof for receiving material; electrical solenoid means supported above the plunger of said device, operable to depress said plunger; and an electrical circuit for connecting said solenoid with a source of electrical energy; trigger means carried by said base operable when said circuit is connected with a source of electrical energy for effecting operation of said solenoid to depress said plunger, comprising: la depressible platform carried by said base and disposed to lie in front -of said device, said platform extending a substantial distance across and forwardly from said material receiving opening in the front of said device, whereby to present a relatively large contact surface area; a switch connected in said circuit for controlling the flow of electrical energy to said solenoid, said switch being disposed below said platform and being arranged to be operated upon movement of a said platform from an initial to a depressed position thereof to effect depressing of said plunger by said solenoid; and resilient means arranged to urge said platform away from a depressed position toward said initial position.

2. In an apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said depressible platform is substantially rigid, and is hingedly connected along one edge thereof to said base.

3. In combination: a base; a device mounted on said base adapted to engage and act upon material received therein, said dev-ice including an operating plunger, and when in an unactuated state being open to the front thereof for receiving material; electric solenoid means supported above said oper-ating plunger, and operable to depress said plunger to actuate said device for acting upon said material; a depressible platform carried by said base and disposed to lie in front of said device, said platform extending a substantial distance across and forwardly from said material receiving opening in the front of said device, whereby to present a relatively large contact surface area; a circuit connected with said solenoid means for conducting electrical energy thereto, said circuit including switch means arranged to be operated in response -to movement of said platform from an initial position to a depressed position to effect depressing of said plunger by said solenoid means when said circuit is connected to a source of electrical energy; and resilient means arranged to urge said platform toward said initial position.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3, wherein said switch means includes an operating button arranged to be engaged by said platform upon movement thereof away from said initial position toward a depressed position, and wherein said resilient means is incorporated into said switch means and is arranged to urge said button toward sa-id platform.

5. The combination as recited in claim 3, wherein the rear edge of said platform is spaced from the front of said device, and wherein said platform extends laterally a substantial distance beyond the opposite sides of said device.

6. In combination: a base, including a mounting plate; a device mounted centrally on said mounting plate, and adapted to engage and act upon material received therein, said device including an operating plunger, and when in an unactuated state being open to the fr-ont thereof for receiving material; electric solenoid means supported above said operating plunger, and operable to depress said plunger to -actuate said device for acting upon said material; a depressible platform mounted in an opening in said mounting plate in front of said device; means connecting said depressible platform to said base, and arranged so that said platform can move between an initial position, wherein the top surface of said platform is generally co-extensive with the top surface of said mounting plate, and a depressed position; a circuit connected with said solenoid for conducting electrical energy thereto, said circuit including switch means mounted below said depressible platform and arranged to be operated in response to movement of said platform from said initia-l t-o said depressed p-osition to effect depressing of said plunger by said solenoid means when said circuit is connected to a source of electrical energy; and resilient means arranged to urge said platform toward said initial position.

7. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said depressible platform is spaced from the front of said device, and extends laterally nearly the width of said mounting plate.

8. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said switch means is secured to one of said base and the undersurface of said platform, and wherein said resilient means is included within said switch means, and comprises a resiliently biased, switch-operating push button.

9. The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said device is a stapler machine.

10. The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said device is a punch machine for making holes in sheet material,

11. The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said means connecting said depressible platform to said base comprises at least one hinge connecting the side of said platform closest said device to said mounting p ate. y

12. The combination as recited in claim 11, wherein said depressible platform is substantially rigid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,940,980 12/ 1933 Svenson. 2,403,947 7/ 1946 Oussani 227--131 XR 2,947,002 8/ 1960 Moore. 3,101,478 8/1963 Oussani 227-131 XR GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, IR. Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN APPARATUS INCLUDING: A BASE; A PLUNGER-OPERATED DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, AND WHEN IN AN UNACTUATED POSITION OPEN TO THE FRONT THEREOF FOR RECEIVING MATERIAL; ELECTRICAL SOLENOID MEANS SUPPORTED ABOVE THE PLUNGER OF SAID DEVICE, OPERABLE TO DEPRESS SAID PLUNGER; AND AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR CONNECTING SAID SOLENOID WITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY; TRIGGER MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BASE OPERABLE WHEN SAID CIRCUIT IS CONNECTED WITH A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF SAID SOLENOID TO DEPRESS SAID PLUNGER, COMPRISING: A DEPRESSIBLE PLATFORM CARRIED BY SAID BASE AND DISPOSED TO LIE IN FRONT OF SAID DEVICE, SAID PLATFORM EXTENDING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE ACROSS AND FORWARDLY FROM SAID MATERIAL RECEIVING OPENING IN THE FRONT OF SAID DEVICE, WHEREBY TO PRESENT A RELATIVELY LARGE CONTACT SURFACE AREA; A SWITCH CONNECTED IN SAID CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO SAID SOLENOID, SAID SWITCH BEING DISPOSED BELOW SAID PLATFORM AND BEING ARRANGED TO BE OPERATED UPON MOVEMENT OF A SAID PLATFORM FROM AN INITIAL TO A DEPRESSED POSITION THEREOF TO EFFECT DEPRESSING OF SAID PLUNGER BY SAID SOLENOID; AND RESILIENT MEANS ARRANGED TO URGE SAID PLATFORM AWAY FROM A DEPRESSED POSITION TOWARD SAID INITIAL POSITION. 